Pentagon Expands Cyber Presence in Hawaii
US forces are relocating cyber personnel from Maryland to Hawaii and establishing a regional network-monitoring centre in the Pacific.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Cybersecurity
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The US military has expanded its cybersecurity presence in Hawaii under the Cyber Defence Forces Pacific initiative, relocating personnel from Maryland to the state. The Defense Information Systems Agency's Pacific command has also set up a regional centre to monitor military communications networks.
Why it matters
The move follows US warnings that China is targeting critical networks in the region, including reported compromises of infrastructure linked to Volt Typhoon. Officials say the new centre is designed to detect damaged undersea cables, electromagnetic spectrum problems, and service outages.
The regional centre will increase headquarters personnel by about 20 per cent, and US forces and allies currently exchange military information across 18 separate networks. The number of personnel relocated from Maryland has not been disclosed.
The players
Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA)
The Pentagon combat support agency responsible for the Department of Defense's global information networks and communications systems.
Brigadier General Smith
The military officer who publicly described the relocation of cyber personnel to Hawaii.
The details
Personnel were moved from Maryland to Hawaii and assigned to the Defense Information Systems Agency's Pacific command, where the Cyber Defence Forces Pacific initiative was tested during Keen Edge, a joint US-Japan command-post exercise. DISA is also seeking a common system for use by all countries involved in joint operations.
Timeline
Last year: An assessment found US forces were not necessarily postured right to meet regional requirements.
Last month: DISA's Pacific command established the regional monitoring centre.
Last week: Brigadier General Smith described the personnel relocation to Hawaii.
Tech Race
The Federal Communications Commission has moved to tighten submarine cable rules, including curbs on Chinese equipment providers. The Hawaii buildout adds a military monitoring layer alongside that civilian regulatory push against Volt Typhoon-style intrusions.
Residents and service members in Hawaii will see increased cyber staffing and monitoring tied to the military networks that support daily operations. The new centre aims to detect outages and cable damage that could disrupt communications.
The takeaway
Protecting undersea cables and military networks depends on early detection, and the Hawaii centre represents an attempt to shorten the time between a disruption and a response. Watching whether the staffing and monitoring gains translate into measurable resilience will show how well the approach works.
Further reading
For more on how these threats are tracked and defended, explore Cybersecurity coverage on Wisevoter.
Source note: This article includes information reported by South China Morning Post.
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